Canadiens to pick first in 2022 NHL entry draft, Devils second

The Montreal Canadiens have won the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery and will select first overall in the upcoming entry draft. The draft is set to be held in Montreal on July 7-8.

It marks the first time the Habs will pick first overall since the team did so in 1980 selecting the WHL’s Doug Wickenheiser. Now, Montreal will have their choice of players at the top of the draft after having the best odds entering Tuesday night’s draft.

The loose consensus for the first overall pick is the OHL’s Shane Wright — a dynamic forward that has scored 32 goals and 94 points in 63 games this year as the captain of the Kingston Frontenacs. Close behind, however, is US NTDP’s Logan Cooley, who sat above Wright in Daily Faceoff’s Chris Peters’ mid-season rankings.

Cooley could become a tremendous consolation prize for the New Jersey Devils, who moved up to the second overall spot after entering with the fifth-highest odds.

Here are the full results:

1. Montreal Canadiens
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Arizona Coyotes
4. Seattle Kraken
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. Columbus Blue Jackets (via Chicago Blackhawks)
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Detroit Red Wings
9. Buffalo Sabres
10. Anaheim Ducks
11. San Jose Sharks
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
13. New York Islanders
14. Winnipeg Jets
15. Vancouver Canucks
16. Buffalo Sabres (via Vegas Golden Knights)